Intro: "Without much media attention, thousands of American troops are being deployed to Israel, and Iranian officials believe that this is the latest and most blatant warning that the US will soon be attacking Tehran."

US troops deploying to Israel. (photo: Nir Elias/Reuters)

Thousands of US Troops Deploying to Israel

By RT News

06 January 12

ithout much media attention, thousands of American troops are being deployed to Israel, and Iranian officials believe that this is the latest and most blatant warning that the US will soon be attacking Tehran.

Tensions between nations have been high in recent months and have only worsened in the weeks since early December when Iran hijacked and recovered an American drone aircraft. Many have speculated that a back-and-forth between the two countries will soon escalate Iran and the US into an all-out war, and that event might occur sooner than thought.

Under the Austere Challenge 12 drill scheduled for an undisclosed time during the next few weeks, the Israeli military will together with America host the largest-ever joint missile drill by the two countries. Following the installation of American troops near Iran's neighboring Strait of Hormuz and the reinforcing of nearby nations with US weapons, Tehran authorities are considering this not a test but the start of something much bigger.

In the testing, America's Theater High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile system will be operating alongside its ship-based Aegis system and Israel's own program to work with Arrow, Patriot and Iron Drone missiles.

Israeli military officials say that the testing was planned before recent episodes involving the US and Iran. Of concern, however, is how the drill will require the deployment of thousands of American troops into Israel. The Jerusalem Post quotes US Commander Lt.-Gen Frank Gorenc as saying the drill is not just an "exercise" but also a "deployment" that will involve "several thousand American soldiers" heading to Israel. Additionally, new command posts will be established by American forces in Israel and that country's own IDF army will begin working from a base in Germany.

In September, the US European Command established a radar system in Israel.

With America previously equipping Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with weaponry to wreck any chance of an Iranian nuclear weapon program from close by, the US will now have added forces on the ready in Israel and Germany under what Tehran fears is a guise being merely perpetrated as a test-run. RT reported last week that the US is equipping Saudi Arabia with nearly $30 billion F-15 war planes, a deal that comes shortly after Washington worked out a contract with Dubai to give the UAE advanced "bunker buster" bombs that could decimate underground nuclear operations in neighboring Iran.

Since the US surveillance mission over Iran that left overseas intelligence with a captured American drone aircraft, tensions have only escalated between the two nations. After Iran threatened to close down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial path for the nation's oil trade, the US dispatched 15,000 marines into the area.

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Are you ready for your sons and daughter to die for Israel? In a war with a country that has 12 functioning Jewish Temples, and a democratically elected government. Where the young citizens dance, drink, and love America and American music, and refer to their President as AhmaNutcase. While we sell arms to the Saudis, where women are second class, there is no culture, all non-Muslim religious books are banned, there is no democracy, and they teach children to hate Americans in their schools. Does allowing all the Israeli citizens at the top of the Obama administration give them the right to use our troops to fight their war?

Tehran was only? place in the Middle East where people went out to the streets in support of USA after 911 attack.And what Obama/Clinton do? Sell $30 billion of arms to Saudi Arabia (where most of the terrorists came from) to attack Iran?

Not actually a democratically elected government when more than four million people with a birthright to a ballot paper are in exile as a result of the Zionists' ethnic cleansing, and about four million interlopers are in Israel under the racist Law of Return. Free the exiles to return to their own country or least vote in its elections, and return the foreign settlers to THEIR own countries, then try a ballot. THAT would be democratic. It would also destroy the racist state of Israel utterly without injuring a single person.

Hey, Tom, you have the direction right, but you are short on breadth & distance. In the work-up to Shock & Awe it is rumored that israeli military & intelligence personel had no-sign-in access to the Pentagon "on weekends" . . . and we ended up carrying their water in Iraq for the next nine years . . . and counting. Now, history is repeating itself as we gear up to destroy Israel's only significant remaining threat in the Middle East.

Will we go to war with Iran? Probably. All of the signals point in that direction, but if we do, Beloved, we will have to initiate conscription, put a half-million men in the quagmire (at any one time), wreck our economy & probably use nukes. Even then count on fighting bitter "guerilla"/"asymmetric"/"4GW" warfare against almost 30 million people over 1,700,000 sq-km. . . . It's going to take 20 years and make us wish that we could return to the good-old-days in Iraq . . . or even Viet Nam.

And what do you think the rest of the world (Russia & China in particular) will be doing while we and our industries are all tangled up in our underwear?

maddave - you are closer to reality than all these sane generals and politicians.I do not think that this is OIL - oil was $18 per barrel before we started the wars for oil? - it is more like neocon ideology with some Christian Zionist apocalyptic fringe.

This is an example of President Obama trying to show that he is tough on National defense and this could take us into world war III. Out of one war into another war! This president will take us into another war to get re-elected.

Bingo! This is a "Thatcher move," ie the Falklands Moment in history. The Reagan Administration was in awe of her brilliant re-election frenzy move (with the overt help no yet of the British/US MSM, ie Murdock's help.) And so the cookie-cutter re-election moves go on. I guess Obama's re-election isn't "in the bag," (I want to say, "unless we don't f*ck some more things up to scare the sh*t out of the world to stand straight and march in step to the polls to re-elect him, otherwise there's no telling what hell will break loose, per the MSM drumbeats...)

Like GW Bush, Obama likes being a war president (good photo-ops with the troops and can reward his campaign contributors). We should not underestimate the power of the MIC/Big Oil and Corporate-Controlled Media to hype up the need for war with Iran (just say that Iran has WMDs, it worked with Iraq).

Now Iranian response to USraeli attack is attack on USA - with thousand US troops sitting in Israel as human shield.Iranian people do not have a choice - they must defend themselves - NOT to be destroyed as Iraq.The USraeli propaganda/lies to attack Iran are even more pathetic than propaganda used to attack Iraq.

Activista: You don't imagine for one second that we had reliable intelligence sources in Iraq prior to our attack, do you? Yet, we had "convincing evidence" that Saddam had the WMD's to justify our attacking Iran (our ex-client state) and quickly engineering the execution of Saddam . . . before he could talk out loud in a public trial.

Now we have a similar situation going on in Iran. We are blind there, but yet, we are replete with the actionable intelligence needed to support our arrogant, bellicose threats and demands . . . and even attacks,

What is the source of this info? My guess is who-else-but our faithful, reliable, democratic friends in Israel . . . you know - the ones who attacked our clearly marked USS Liberty and then strafed the survivors in the lifeboats . . . for which the American People have never received an apology or a satisfactory explanation,

What is this, a press release from the Iranian govt.? A star wars type missile defense system for Europe that has little chance of actually working if it were needed is being given a preparedness test. And this is being played as a plan to get the US to fight a war with Iran in Israel's interests. The paranoids and Antisemites are now on the alert.

"A star wars type missile defense system for Europe?"Who is threatening Europe with missiles? "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to persuade his Cabinet to authorise an attack ... Israel threatens to strike Iran ...the long-range Jericho III design. Its specifications are classified, but military experts believe the Israeli missile to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to any destination in the Middle East, most of Europe, North America and Africa ... gave Israel the grounds for a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear sites....

Both activista and i lost control of our senses. Like everyone else in the USA we know that any criticism of Israel whatsoever is prima face anti-semitism. I dont know about activista, but I neglected to offer my thanks today for:1. The several Israeli spies that have been caught & jailed in the USA; 2. The still-unexplained & un-apologized-for attack on the USS Liberty & her survivors in lifeboats;3. The intelligence support that added impetus to our drive to attack Iraq & to depose Saddam Hussein. . . . . just to mention a few of Israel's magnanimous gestures toward the USA,

Stannadel, in the world we live in paranoids are simply those who realise what's going on. Obama said America cannot fight the world's battles, at the same time as making unproven accusations about Iran assassination squads and now this. Americans must say NO to another oil-grab that'll kill innocent civilians and their own kids in uniform.

Oh, Iran "hijacked" the drone, did they? You mean, there was this aircraft in Iranian airspace, minding its own business, and the nefarious, nuke-seeking, nutcase Iranians feloniously plucked it out of the air for no reason? No wonder this piece isn't signed.

This the worst news of the year. No matter what else happens. I am so chagrinned that Obama wants to go this way. And he should have vetoed that detention thing, also. Who's he taking advice from, Dick Cheney?

The Neocons are getting everybody riled up AGAIN. Can we not get these war-monger SHUT UP. The minute they stir up emotions everybody loose their head.We HAVE to stop them. There should be enough sane people with cool heads in this country to stop the damned war drums.You MUST be aware that the Neocons are pressuring Obama

Please KEEP YOUR COOL. And work AGAINST this madness. Don't join in the frenzy.Take a handful of CHILL PILLS, please.

I don't think this is the start of the war against Iran. But it is part of the development of the pretext -- i.e., that Iran is an "existential" threat to Israel. That statement is 100% false. Zionism is the "existential" threat to Israel.

I do think the US and Israel are serious about starting a war against Iran. Whether or not Iran has a nuclear program does not matter. They want a war against Iran because it is not under their control. Back in the 1990s Netanyahoo declared Israel's military hegemony in the middle east backed up by American lackeys and cannon fodder.

Iran would be wise to file complaints with the World Court, International Criminal Court, and UN protesting USrael provocations and threats of war. This is its side of the war for world opinion.

Iran is in very bad economic situation and has internal political problems - their president is religious fanatic.USrael is in bad economic situation and has internal political problems - ....

Iranians are NOT bluffing this time - they will block Strait of Hormuz - do not have much other options now.China and Russia are safe -Jan 1, 2011 – The first oil pipeline linking the world's biggest oil producer, Russia, and the world's biggest consumer of energy, China, begins operation.I agree with your advice - in rational Word - but we are beyond

Charlie Rose had several experts on the Mid East, a couple of nights ago. Activista you are not correct. Ahmadinejad is not a religious fanatic(I am no fan of his) but he and the Aiatollah is struggling for power.

The country is suffering a great deal of damage financially because of the sanctions, and the people are selling off a lot and buying gold because they are worried about what will happen.

Please get more ACTUAL information and stay calm. Hysteria is what starts wars, and so does a bunch of rumors.

We ALL realize that our country is in DEEP trouble, I believe it is up to the sane people to protest war VERY LOUDLY.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BENEFIT IF WE GO TO WAR????? CHINA AND RUSSIA, FOR WE WILL BE FINISHED AND THEY WILL PICK UP THE PIECES......AND THEY WILL DOMINATEIF WE COMMIT SUICIDE. Will the republicans borrow MORE meney for war????

Who knows, this could be Obama's campaign plan. Look at it from a pragmatic point of view:1) Oil is running out2) war with iran is "inevitable" (in the minds of the MIC, Israel, & the oil companies)3) It's virtually impossible to unseat an incumbent president during a war4)Obama's "on a winning streak" having already scored a "hat trick" in Afghanistan, Iraq & Libya. So why not "let 'er ride" while the dice are hot?!5) In obama's mind he probably rationalizes the cost-benefit something like this "if it takes a war to keep me in office where I can do some 'good', then it's worth the cost; voters will forget by election day. Besides, better I get credit for it than those republican nutballs."

I've got a word for you all; Diplomacy. Oh where, oh where did the art of this concept go? Under "W" and now Obama thru Hillary's guidance, all I see is a lot of saber rattling, which costs a lot of money and often morphs into skirmishes and then WAR. I guess the MIC has no use for diplomatic channels. Nope, the business of war really hummmms when we have rotating wars on the nation's agenda. And, sadly, a satiated MIC, means re-election for many.

After reading a recent RSN article about the undertones of racism concerning President Obama, I thought it existed from the beginning when right wing Chief Justice Roberts bungled the oath of office. (A Freudian slip?) The insults continued when Joe Shmoe from South Carolina shouted "you lie" during the President's address to Congress. Along with these tawdry examples was the prolonged "Birther" controversy which no other president has had to endure. With so many right wing politicians representing former Confederate states, they seem possessed by an irrational opposition to Mr. Obama. Are we witnessing an example of the "Civil War Syndrome" where the south rises again? What better way for the South to get even than to sabotage the Union as lawmakers? (Some would argue they're more law breakers than law makers.) Whatever, their efforts have been more effective than a Jeb Stuart cavalry raid.That said, there are times when criticism of the President is warranted and such a time is now, with the latest chapter in the Endless War Syndrome now unfolding with the deployment of US troops to Israel. Two of the Bushies most ignominious accomplishments were the illegitimate wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the tax cuts for the super-rich. Mr. Obama has already caved-in to the tax-cut extension and is now putting the country in a position to engage in a new war in the Middle East. Will it become Mr. Obama's Iraq? I hope the President has some Jackie Robinson in him.....

From what I understand, we could be fighting Russia and China who support Iran. Are we preparing for WW III?

And....Would we be so quick to invade Iran if we knew that they would nuke us if we tried? And if they had a bomb, they know we could wipe them off the face of the earth with our own arsenal if they tried to bomb us.

I don't blame any country for wanting Nuclear bombs as protection against the US aggression.

There is no way our country can afford another war.

We must do anything and everything to prevent this from happening.

WHAT MADNESS!

HAVEN'T THE WAR MONGERS IN THIS COUNTRY LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN FIASCO?

You are absolutely right and that was the proof that Bush & Company knew that Iraq had no WMD of the nuclear variety - they knew we could invade Iraq and not one nuke would be there to greet us!!! It was so obvious then to me that Bush was lying. That is also why Rumsfeld told the generals who said 130,000 troops would not be enough to do the job right to shut up, "It will be a cakewalk". They should be in prison now for war crimes instead of selling books full of lies. Now Obama is following in W's footsteps. As my dad would have said, "Obama is educated beyond the level of his intelligence". Plus this country is under the control of a bunch of Fascist, religious fanatic Republicans who easily sway the millions of non thinking zombies who surround us! And I am sick of Israel and the religious fanatic Americans who 'think' they are scoring points with God by protecting "God's chosen people"! If that is true let's let God protect them as He has so consistently (not!) done throughout their history! I know there are lots of good people in Israel but I am tired of waiting for them to stand up to their own fanatics.

Right, Sheila Cee, the West only thinks nukes should be banned for other countries, not their own! RDMC is so right about Zionism, but because of historic persecution of Jews people are scared to speak out for fear of being branded Nazis. Did you see recent story re extreme traditional Jews hounding women in the street because of their immodest clothes, etc? Israel says Palestine was never a country, yet Israel was created after WW2 by the allies. My dad sailed a ship taking refugees there, and soon as they landed Jewish terrorists - sorry, "freedom fighters", (who killed UK troops then booby trapped the bodies) sunk the ship as a thank you. Reason? The vessel had once taken refugees who wanted to go to Israel somewhere else.

sandyboy -- I don't see why anyone should be scared to criticize Zionism. Many top Zionists collaborated with the Nazis. Jews all over the world have more to fear from Zionists than anyone. Zionism has been declared a racist ideology by a UN conference on racism. Zionism is the little brother of Nazism; they both grew up out of the extreme racist, nationalistic, and imperialistic movements of the late 19th and early 29th centuries. Zionists are terrorists and thugs. That's what

I'm not against Israel and I'm not against a Jewish nation. After all most nations in the middle east have Islam as their official national religion, though like Syria, Iraq before the US invasion, Iran, Egypt before the US regime change, and so on, they are tolerant and respectful of all religions. The middle east is the birth place to the three major religions and they all have holy sites all over the middle east. Religious people need to be respected and have access to the sites that are holy in their religion. Zionists are not religious people for the most part. If they were, they'd be tolerant and respectful. Check out the group called Jews Against Zionism.

Maybe while they are there, the US troops can enforce UN resolution that Israel is not complying with - 90+ ? How many were against Sadam? How many against Iran?wake-up-america.net/UN%20Resolutions%20against%20Israel.htmGuess that there are quite a few Israelis that would support regime change.

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